Acute Precipitants of Physical Elder Abuse: Qualitative Analysis of Legal Records From Highly Adjudicated Cases

Abstract

Elder abuse is a common phenomenon with potentially devastating consequences for older adults. Although researchers have begun to identify predisposing risk factors for elder abuse victims and abusers, little is known about the acute precipitants that lead to escalation to physical violence. We analyzed legal records from highly adjudicated cases to describe these acute precipitants for physical elder abuse. In collaboration with a large, urban district attorney’s office, we qualitatively evaluated legal records from 87 successfully prosecuted physical elder abuse cases from 2003 to 2015. We transcribed and analyzed narratives of the events surrounding physical abuse within victim statements, police reports, and prosecutor records. We identified major themes using content analysis. We identified 10 categories of acute precipitants that commonly triggered physical elder abuse, including victim attempting to prevent the abuser from entering or demanding that he or she leave, victim threatening or attempting to leave/escape, threat or perception that the victim would involve the authorities, conflict about a romantic relationship, presence during/intervention in ongoing family violence, issues in multi-generational child rearing, conflict about the abuser’s substance abuse, confrontation about financial exploitation, dispute over theft/destruction of property, and disputes over minor household issues. Common acute precipitants of physical elder abuse may be identified. Improved understanding of these acute precipitants for escalation to physical violence and their contribution to elder abuse may assist in the development of prevention and management strategies.

Violence against older women: A systematic review of qualitative literature

“…Only 12 articles [ 29 , 35 , 38 – 40 , 45 , 51 , 58 , 72 – 74 , 79 ] reflected on the relationship between the researchers and the participants (reflexivity). Procedures for ethical research were described in 36 articles [ 27 , 29 , 33 – 37 , 39 – 41 , 45 – 52 , 54 , 55 , 58 , 60 , 61 , 63 , 64 , 66 – 72 , 74 , 76 , 77 , 79 ]. Five articles [ 43 , 44 , 56 , 73 , 75 ] described obtaining consent, but lacked descriptions of ethical approval, and 10 articles [ 32 , 38 , 42 , 53 , 57 , 59 , 62 , 65 , 78 , 80 ] lacked descriptions of both ethical approval and obtaining consent.…”

“…Older women described IPV, family violence and elder abuse of various types, perpetrated by a range of perpetrators [ Table 1 ]. Among the specific types of violence reported in the articles in this review, across IPV, elder abuse and family violence, physical violence was most frequently reported [ 27 , 32 – 54 , 57 , 60 – 63 , 66 , 69 – 80 ], followed by emotional/ psychological [ 28 , 32 , 36 – 39 , 41 – 51 , 53 , 54 , 56 , 60 – 62 , 66 – 80 ], economic/ financial [ 34 – 36 , 39 , 41 , 43 – 45 , 48 – 50 , 61 , 62 , 64 , 68 , 71 , 72 , 74 – 78 ], sexual [ 27 , 33 , 34 , 40 , 42 , 49 , 50 , 54 , 57 , 59 , 60 , 67 , …”

“…Violence occurring within the family was discussed in 15 articles [35,39,43,44,46,48,49,55,63,66,68,69,71,76,79], with perpetrators including family members not including children [27,43,44,48,49,59,63,68,69,71] and adult children [35,39,48,66,76,79]. Studies captured instances of physical and verbal aggression by mentally ill adult children against older women [66], violence enacted by elderly with dementia against older women who were caregivers [46], and forms of neglect, financial exploitation and emotional abuse enacted by family members, including children [44].…”

Elder abuse and associated factors in eastern romania

“…Although they receive less attention, psychological and emotional abuse have a significant impact on the course of chronic illnesses, particularly by the worsening of depression and self‐neglect, altered nutritional and frailty status, dramatic decline in quality of life. The risk factors for elder abuse are multiple and vary depending on demographic areas, studied populations, ethnic and religious peculiarities . The most cited risk factors are: socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, and, to a lesser extent, the presence of physical function impairment, social isolation and cognitive disorders …”

“…The risk factors for elder abuse are multiple and vary depending on demographic areas, studied populations, ethnic and religious peculiarities. 12,13 The most cited risk factors are: socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, and, to a lesser extent, the presence of physical function impairment, social isolation and cognitive disorders. 14 Abuse of older persons can occur both in the domestic environment, at home, and in long-term care facilities or nursing homes.…”